Sign



Aug. 7, 1928.

CLORE D comma.

H. F. ANDERSON SIGN Filed Hay 2:1:I 1926 Affi*4 l wmwf..

H0775 a @715070, @j M j f MM Patented Aug. 7,. 1928.

UNITED STATES` HARRY ir. ANDERSON, or MARION, INDIANA, AssiGNoR or ONE-HALF To JAMES BoYcii,

PATENT orifice.`

' OF LAKETON, MICHIGAN.

SIGN. i

Application filed May 22, 1926. Serial No. 110,873.

The invention `relates generally to signs and more particularly to a sign adapted for exterior illumination.

Itv is the object of the invention to provide an improved sign of simplified construction having a highly attractive appearance.

It is another object of the invention to provide a sign in which the characters are provided with a brilliant background.

It is another object of the invention to provide a sign with a glass backing having a rough rear surface with a brilliant reflective coating thereon.

Further objects and advantages of the 1nvention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is an elevation of a sign comprising a Florentine glass backing. I

Fig. 2 is a section taken along the lin 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2% is an enlarged fragmental view of Florentine glass.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a single panel for a unit type sign having a backing of chipped glass.

Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 4a is an enlarged fragmental view of chipped glass. .Y

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a complete sign wherein the sign is illuminated eXteriorly.

The invention in the preferred forms illustrated contemplates a sign comprising a backing of clear glass having a` rough rear surface and characters or letters, generally of translucent opal (i. e. white) glass of the conveXo-concave type, mounted on the smooth front surface thereof. The rough surface' is coated with a gilt, silvery or bright-colored opaque material of highly reflective quality. This forms a background for the characters such that Vwhen the sign is illuminated exteriorly (ile. from the front) the background appears highly luminous and brilliant, and thereby causes the characters to stand out prominently and attractively. t

In Figs. 1 and 2 a backing 1 is provided of clear Florentine glass, to the front or smooth surface of which conveXo-concave characters 2 of translucent opal glass are mounted by means of suitable cement. The

rough rear surface is coated with a substance 3 such as bright-colored paintoi gilt which may be applied thereto as 'a coating, or burned in, to'form a reflective coating and to provide a background for the characters. For purposes ofkillustiatioii this coating is shown in the drawings as being of substantial thickness.

.Although as shown in Fig. 1, all of the characters may be mounted on a single backing and the rear surface of the backing coated to fill up all the spaces surrounding the characters7 the invention lends itself readily to use in signs wherein each character or letter is on an individual plate. Such a unit type letter is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, wherein a backing 4 of clear chipped glass has a conveXo-concave translucent glass letter 5 cemented thereon. The coating 6 applied to the rough rear surface of the backing is formed in the nature of an outline around the letter, the border 7 of the backing and the remaining spaces around the outline being preferably painted an opaque black.

Fig. 5 illustrates an example of a complete sign embodying one form of the invention. Herein a sign 8 such as that shown in Fig. 1 is mounted in a frame 9 which is preferably provided with a canopy 10, this canopy usually havingy a reflector (not shown) on its under surface. Illuminating units 11 ai'e mounted above the sign 8 so asrto illuminate the front thereof. The refiection of the light from these units by the brilliantbackground formed upon the rough rear surface of the clear glass backing sets out the characters in a highly attractive manner.

The effect of this background may be described most clearly by means of an illustration of an analogous effect such as is produced when the sun shines upon a body of water. If the water is perfectly calin a single image of the sun is visible in the water, but there is no scattered or irregularly reflected sunlight and the water appears dull and non-luminous. If, however, the water is wavy or rippled, myriads of images of the sun are visible from all directions, and the sunlight thus reflected irregularly from the rough surface makes the surface of the water' appear brilliant and ,highly luminous6 In the forms of the inventiondisclosed the backing of clear (1. e. transparent) glass having a rough rear surface With-a reflec tive coatingfthereon produces an effect similar to thaty of the ripples en thehwater, the irregularly reflected 01' scatterecl light from the rough surface producing the effect offa highly luminous or brilliant background which attracts the eye 'and canses'the white letters `to stand out prominently. Obviously this is a very desirable feature in a Sign.

It will he apparent that the strong con- `trastbetween the characters and the background obviates the necessity of using a sheet-metal stencil to cover the Space surrough rear side ol the plate, and means cxdterioily'ofthe sign to illu'lninate the front of the plate.

lInk testimony whereof, I liafi'e hereunto affixed i my signature.

HARRY fr. ANDERSN. 

